Propelling device



(No Model.)

W JOHNSTON.

PROPELLING DEVICE.

No. 381,625. Patented Apr. 24, 1888.

WITNESSES Ill VE/VTO By 68/ A HORNE).

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' at each end an arm, 9', the outerends of which UNITED STATES PATENTUrrrcn.

PROPELLIN G DEVIQE.

QPLCIPICATION forming part of Letters 3 Application filed August 18.1887.

To (tZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM JOHNSTON, of Pittsburg, in the county ofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in PropellingDevices; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to that class of devices for propelling vesselswhich consist, essentially, of endless chains carrying buckets orpaddles and supported at the sides of the vessel on wheels mounted onthe hull at or near the bow and stern of the vessel, and my improvementsare fully set forth in the following specification and pointed out inthe claims.

In the accompanyingdrawings, which form part of my specification, Figurel is a longitudinal section of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a perspectiveview of one of the paddles or buckets. Fig. 3 is a perspective view ofthe same, showing the manner of securing the buckets and buoys to therods connecting the links of the endless chain.

In the drawings, A represents a wheel or drum having guides F forkeeping and guiding the endless chain B, which is composed of a numberof links pivoted together by rods E. The body of the brackets G, Fig. 3,has

arms are mounted upon two adjacent rod-s E of the chain. To the body ofeach two laterally-adjacent brackets is secured a hollow flat plate-likebuoy,l),plane upon the side next the bracketand having upon its otherside, at or near its center, two parallel ribs, (Z, forming between thema seat, (2, in which is secured the edge e of the bucket or paddle G,the ribs bracing the paddle throughout its length, as well as forming aconvenient and most secure means of attachment.

The shafts H are mounted in the hull of the vessel, and upon them aresecured the wheels or drums A, arranged so that the wheels will be onthe sides of the vessel. The before described chains bearing the buoysand buckets or paddles are supported upon these wheels, as shown in Fig.1, so that the paddles upon the under part of the chain shall beimmersed in the water. The whole body of the paddles Patent No. 381,625,dated April 24, 1888.

Serial No. 247,304. (No model.)

is thus made operative, while it will be observed by reason of theemployment of the armed brackets G g the chain is kept free of thewater, and therefore does not act asa drag upon the action of thepaddles, as it does when it is immersed.

Power is applied to the shafts in the usua manner, and the rotation ofthe wheels and the consequent movement of the chain and its paddles willpropel the vessel.

The buoys D may be dispensed with and the buckets or paddles 0 attachedto the chain without their interposition. The projection of the paddlesfrom the chain by the employment of the armed brackets renders the buoysmuch less necessary than in former constructions, and with or withoutthe buoys a given amount of power will have greater efficiency inpropelling the vessel.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. The propellingdevice for vessels-,consisting of the endless chain, the twc armedoutwardly projected brackets, and the buckets or paddles securedthereto, substantially as de scribed.

2. The propelling device for vessels,consisting of the endless chain,the two-armed outwardly-projected brackets, the flat plate-like buoys,and the buckets or paddles, all con nected together, substantially asdescribed.

3. The endless chain and the paddles or buckets carried thereby, incombination with the intermediate brackets having their pro jecting armsmounted upon the pivot-rods of the chain and projecting the paddles orbuckets therefrom, substantially as described.

4. The combination of the endless chain, the brackets projectingtherefrom, the flat plate-like buoys secured to said brackets and havingon their outer side parallel ribs, and buckets or paddles seen red inthe seat between said ribs, all substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of May,A. l). 1887.

. XVM. JOHNSTON.

Vlitnesses:

A. G. JOHNSTQN, O. S. JOHNSTON.

